Hanoi (VNA) – The European Union has vowed ongoing technical support to Vietnam’s implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement/Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT), effective since 2019, as both deepen forestry ties.
EU Ambassador Julien Guerrier reaffirmed this pledge at the 7th meeting of the Vietnam-EU Joint Implementation Committee on VPA/FLEGT in Hanoi on March 4.
The agreement aims to promote the trade of timber products sourced from sustainably managed forests and harvested in line with the laws of the producing country. It also seeks to guarantee the legal origin of timber products throughout the entire supply chain, whether destined for import, export, or domestic trade.
Vietnam’s push for transparent timber sourcing
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri, speaking at the event, acknowledged the hurdles Vietnam’s forestry sector faces in meeting stringent quality and environmental protection standards of international markets. Yet, he pointed to free trade deals fueling timber export growth of Vietnam, one of the world’s largest wood exporters.
In 2024, Vietnam posted a record 14.5 billion USD trade surplus in wood and forestry products, up 17.15% from 2023. Tri credited this to transparent, verifiable sourcing of raw materials that have meet global wood processing demands, improving the livelihoods of those involved in forest protection, development, and afforestation.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has urged the Government to roll out key regulatory frameworks, including a decree refining the timber legality assurance system. The changes aim to align with the VPA/FLEGT and streamline FLEGT licensing processes for temporarily imported and re-exported timber shipments, as well as confiscated wood after processing. The move will also serve to ensure compliance with the US-Vietnam Agreement 301 on governing illegal logging and timber trade.
EU support and challenges
Ambassador Guerrier praised the progress made under the VPA/FLEGT since the last meeting in early 2024, expressing hope that Vietnam will effectively follow the agreement in 2025. This paves the way for the issuance of FLEGT licenses by the Vietnam CITES Management Authority, verifying the legality of timber shipments exported, along with those temporarily imported for re-exported to the EU, under the agreement’s regulations and related legal documents.
Yet, he flagged two sticking points: ensuring full accountability for timber origins at all stages, particularly in Vietnam’s import procedures, and finalising the list of recognised source countries and geographic regions.
Guerrier also spotlighted biodiversity loss and climate change, with extreme weather like natural disasters, droughts, saltwater intrusion, and wildfires becoming more frequent. Forests, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth", are increasingly becoming victims of this crisis.
This calls for immediate action. Vietnam and the EU have agreed to work together toward sustainable forest development. Vietnam’s national development strategy also underlines the critical role of forests in achieving its climate goals by 2050, he said.
Vietnam’s forests will play a crucial role as a "carbon sink", contributing to emission reduction across multiple industries. That’s why Vietnam needs to protect its forests, ensuring they generate sustainable value, both environmentally and economically, he added./.
